Dietary Patterns and Cardiovascular Risk in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Findings From the SCCSS-Nutrition Study

The study examined dietary patterns in 802 adult survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed before age 21 between 1976-2005. Using analysis of 52 food groups, five main dietary patterns were identified: Mediterranean-inspired diet (22%), Western indulgence diet (38%), Western sweet and fatty diet (26%), restrained indulgence diet (9%), and plant-based and alcohol-rich diet (6%). Findings showed that dietary patterns were associated with social and demographic factors such as sex, age, region, education, and socioeconomic status. Surprisingly, no significant associations were found between dietary patterns and cardiovascular risk. The authors recommend including nutritional counselling and broader lifestyle support as part of long-term care for childhood cancer survivors.